Click Here The people vs. the cloud
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Oct 28, 2025 Scott Stratton Henderson, a college student from St. Charles, Missouri, spearheaded community resistance against the proposed Project Cumulus data center. He shares how he rallied locals through a Change.org petition, leading to packed council meetings and a withdrawal of the development proposal. Joined by technology policy expert Asad Ramzanali, they discuss the economic implications of such projects, highlighting concerns over water use, tax breaks, and long-term local benefits. Their story reveals the power of grassroots activism in addressing tech's impact on small towns.
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College Student Sparks A Movement
- Scott Stratton Henderson started a Change.org petition that exploded from a few signatures to thousands within days.
- His online petition turned into organized local opposition and media attention that big tech couldn't ignore.
The Cloud Is Physically Grounded
- Data centers are physical, land-consuming facilities that bring heavy power and water demands to local communities.
- Their growth is accelerating alongside AI demand, pushing them into small towns and sensitive local environments.
Site Sits Over A Fragile Water Source
- The proposed St. Charles site sat 500 feet from homes and above a vulnerable wellhead district with a history of contamination.
- Residents feared noise, diesel backup tanks, and massive water and power use could threaten local health and wells.